North Macedonia

1. North Macedonia’s National ICT Strategy for 2021-2025 aims to improve access, ensure data privacy, secure digital platforms, and equip citizens with digital skills. In addition, it mentions plans to promote digital citizenship education.   
2. National Strategy for Education Development 2018–2025: This strategy emphasizes the integration of digital competencies into the curriculum, fostering critical thinking, and promoting digital literacy among students. 
3. National Cybersecurity Strategy 2018–2022: This policy focuses on creating a safe digital environment and includes provisions for raising awareness about responsible digital behaviour, which aligns with DCE goals. 
4. Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plans: Recent iterations of the OGP Action Plan highlight transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the digital space, which intersect with aspects of DCE. 

Sources

1. https://ener.gov.mk/Default.aspx?item=newdocumentdetails&detalisId=23
2. http://mrk.mk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Strategija-za-obrazovanie-ENG-WEB-1.pdf
3. https://ccdcoe.org/uploads/2021/02/North-Macedonia_National-Cyber-Security-Strategy-2018-2022_2018_English.pdf
4. https://www.opengovpartnership.org/members/north-macedonia/ 

1. Under North Macedonia’s National ICT Strategy for 2021-2025, the government plans to establish the Central Digital Agency of North Macedonia (DAMK). This agency will be responsible for upgrading the IT skills of public sector workers and overseeing various other ICT-related activities.
2. Republic of North Macedonia Safer Internet Day Supporter 

Sources

1. North Macedonia’s National ICT Strategy for 2021-2025: No information was found 
2. Beyond the strategy, the Digital Readiness Assessment for North Macedonia, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), evaluates the country’s accessibility to IT tools and digital literacy among its citizens. 

Sources

1. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-01/dra_mk_06.pdf

Relevant stakeholders were actively involved in the design of North Macedonia’s National ICT Strategy 2021–2025. The Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA) organised public consultations and open debates during the drafting phase.

Sources

Online survey with national authorities 

1. North Macedonia’s National ICT Strategy for 2021-2025. There are plans to set up a national coalition to monitor the implementation of strategy. It includes members from the ICT Forum, government ministries, university faculties, telecom operators and ICT companies, training organisations, NGOs. Regulatory and Implementation Bodies: Key institutions, such as the National Digital Agency and MKD-CIRT (Cyber Incident Response Team), are instrumental in implementing parts of the strategy.

Sources

1. https://ener.gov.mk/Default.aspx?item=newdocumentdetails&detalisId=23

1. North Macedonia’s National ICT Strategy for 2021-2025. The Government of North Macedonia working with the national coalition on digital schools plans to use surveys to assess digital skills 
2. AmCham North Macedonia’s Role: The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) has actively provided feedback on the implementation and evaluation aspects of the strategy. 
3. UNDP and Broader Engagement: The UNDP-supported National Development Strategy (NDS), which intersects with ICT goals, established a participatory operational structure for ongoing monitoring and evaluation. 

Sources

1. https://ener.gov.mk/Default.aspx?item=newdocumentdetails&detalisId=23
   https://amcham.mk/advocacy-news/comments-on-national-strategy-for-ict/
   https://www.undp.org/north-macedonia/blog/shaping-north-macedonias-future-collaborative-journey-towards-national-development

1. The Central Digital Agency of North Macedonia (DAMK). This agency will be responsible for upgrading the IT skills of public sector workers and overseeing various other ICT-related activities.     
2. The Ministry of Education and Science set up a Digital Library to increase access to textbooks    
3. The government of North Macedonia plans to provide free internet access in all government institutions (universities, research centres, and other educational institutions, healthcare facilities, ministries, courts, local self-governments, and other state authorities and bodies) through The National Operational Broadband Plan for 2019-2029 (NOBP) 
4. The ICDL Foundation actively supports North Macedonia’s aspirations for digital literacy, ensuring that individuals across the country are well-equipped for success in the modern, technology-driven world. 
5. Cybersecurity and Digital Safety Initiatives: Partnerships between government bodies and private organisations address cybersecurity challenges, emphasizing awareness, education, and capacity building. NGO-Led Digital Literacy Programs: Local NGOs work on grassroots-level initiatives, often in partnership with international organisations, to deliver targeted training and workshops on safe online behaviour and combating misinformation​. 
6. Cybersecurity and Digital Safety Initiatives: Partnerships between government bodies and private organisations address cybersecurity challenges, emphasizing awareness, education, Support for Startups and Digital Innovation: Skopje has emerged as a hub for tech startups, supported by organizations like MASIT (Macedonian ICT Chamber of Commerce) and Startup Macedonia. and capacity building. 

Sources

1. https://ener.gov.mk/Default.aspx?item=newdocumentdetails&detalisId=23
2. https://www.e-ucebnici.mon.gov.mk/
3. https://mioa.gov.mk/sites/default/files/pbl_files/documents/reports/north_macedonia_national_operational_broadband_plan_final_en.pdf
4. https://icdl.org/country/north-macedonia/
5. https://impetus.mk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/recommendations-to-address-key-cybersecurity-challenges-in-north-macedonia-.pdf
6. https://www.undp.org/north-macedonia/blog/north-macedonia-sets-benchmark-digital-readiness-region

National Frameworks in North Macedonia: North Macedonia’s collaboration with UNDP and local NGOs aligns with international standards for equitable digital and traditional education. Initiatives to improve digital literacy and access for underserved groups reflect efforts to integrate the principles of SDG 4 into the national education system. 

Sources

https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/North-Macedonia-UNSDCF-2021-2025.pdf

1. Media literacy expert group (E02541) 
2. Working Group on Digital Education: Learning, Teaching and Assessment (DELTA) (E03787)  
3. Commission Expert group for Digital Education Content (E03942)  
4. Commission Expert Group – Expert group on Safer Internet for Children 
5. Member of DCE promoters network 
6. Member of INHOPE / INSAFE (centres from BIK+) 
7. North Macedonia has actively contributed to the sharing of good practices, pedagogical innovations, and educational resources through its cooperation with the Council of Europe and other international organizations. Notably, the « Quality Education for All » project, implemented by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia, is a key initiative. This project, funded by Germany, aims to promote democracy and human rights in education and equip young people with the competencies necessary for living in a multicultural society. It involves 25 pilot schools, focusing on inclusive and democratic school governance models, and engages local communities and civil society organizations in the process​ (Portal)​​​. 
8. North Macedonia’s involvement in the Council of Europe’s « Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye » program underscores its commitment to regional cooperation. This program includes various projects aimed at enhancing the capacities of national education systems to provide quality education, fight discrimination, and promote democratic citizenship. The country also participates in capacity-building initiatives that support the development of democratic culture, media literacy, and the integration of marginalized groups into the education system​ (Portal)​​. 
9. Member of Commission Working group on Schools 
10. USAID Civic Engagement Project facilitates collaboration between civil society organisations (CSOs) and the government. While its focus is broader than DCE, it enhances inclusivity and engagement in policy-making, which aligns with the principles of fostering active digital citizenship. 
11. YouThink Media Literacy Program: This program, implemented by IREX and funded by USAID, works with North Macedonia’s Ministry of Education to integrate media literacy and critical thinking skills into formal and non-formal education. 

Sources

Training on DCE to teachers and other professionals:
The Mother Teresa University in Skopje, North Macedonia, organised a training session for 120 university students, which aimed to empower them on online risks prevention through a methodology developed by the European research project:  

https://followmebg.com/en/project-prevention-of-youth-risky-viral-trends-2022-1-bg01-ka220-you-000085174-erasmus/

Translation and dissemination of DCE Recommendation:

There is no direct evidence indicating that North Macedonia has translated and officially disseminated the Council of Europe’s Recommendation on Digital Citizenship Education (DCE).  

The DCE promoters network produced several outputs as a result of their active engagement in various activities, with notable contributions from North Macedonia. Additionally, some of the developed materials have been translated into Macedonian to ensure accessibility and broader dissemination within the country.